Interestingly though the new router came with firmware 1.25 and I didn't jot down the voice level but after I put it online to the internet Vonvage pushed down firmware 1.24.xx which downleveled me back to where I was with the old router.

By "voice level" do you mean voice volume on the other end? And what do you mean by "to where I was with the old router"? Does that mean that Vonage increased or decreased the level?

I just installed Vonage last night, using Linksys RT31P2, and confirm that I'm having this same problem. I only made one call because I found it very annoying. I also have a Broadvoice account, using a Sipura 2000 and the voice quality was excellent. The reason that I'm even considering Vonage is because Broadvoice has had too many problems in the few months that I've been with them, but I had absolutely no complaints about their sound quality. I'm going to call Vonage now and will make it quite clear that if they can't resolve this I will definitely cancel my service before my trial period is up. I'm hoping that they can get it right.

FWIW, I tried and returned 3 Linksys PAP2 adapters due to noise POTs. I finally gave up and bought a Motorola TA. Haven't had a single issue since. You can do a search on the broadbandreports forums for issue and you'll see that the PAP2 device did have (and may still have) noisy POTs

It should also be noted that many newer phone have some sort of noise reduction circuitry that can help to alleviate noisy lines.

a) purchased the Mot at Radio Shack, $80. Initially they told me that they could only sell it to me if they activate my Vonage service, but I was able to convince them otherwise.b) had purchased the 3 previous PAP2 adapters from Best Buyc) no, see b)d) I believe they have some licensing agreement with Linksys. Perhaps Linksys can build the boxes cheaper than Motorola?

I have a couple of friends who have been successfully using the RT31P2, but my experiences with the PAP2 all caused them to stay away from it. it is also possible, however, that the 3 bad PAP2's were all from the same lot (2 different BestBuys).

Firmware Version: 1.26.01, Dec 1 2004Voice Version: 2.0.12(LI)...6. He RMAed me another unit. Very nice, calm, and helpful guy, as he could be given my irritation.

2nd unit came in on Wed. Currently running above firmwares. Same noise right off the bat. Called Vonage on Thurs.

Went through some trobleshooting. Rep felt it was the RT31P2. He said they had had some documented problem with a batch of PAP2, but not RT31. He felt that they had been getting some calls about the RT31, so it might be a trend. Vonage is sending a third RT31P2, but they are going to do QA and check the RT31P2 before shipping for noise. The support rep said it might take longer to receive, but I found that totally acceptable. I was concerned about the 14 day trial period, and the rep extended it to 30.

I recently referred a friend of mine to the Vonage service. Unfortuantely, he received the Linksys RT device, and immediately began complaining about the background hiss problem.

He called Vonage, and was told that this is evidently a known problem among SOME of the Linksys units. After some very basic troubleshooting, the representative told my friend that they would be replacing the RT device.

It sounds like this is actually an issue that Vonage is beginning to accept as being somewhat common to certain units. I received an RT device to replace a Motorola, and I had the same problem. It's not caused by the telephone you're using, it's the RT itself. Firmware updates don't appear to fix it, nor is a setting. It's some kind of defect in some of them.

My 3rd RT31P2 POS is coming tomorrow and if this one is not working either I will be using another company. Oh and they tried to charge me the $99 and I said that is rediculous and they very kindly removed the charge and they also are sending me a return shipping label as well but they were not so quick to give me that. I said I already paid shipping when I signed up and you sent me 2 bad units, I think you should pay for that and they did.